Brain in a Vat: Recent Episodes
Brain in a Vat
Thought experiments and conversations with philosophers. Hosted by Dr Jason Werbeloff and Mark Oppenheimer.
How do digital interactions, specifically through gaming, form genuine friendships? Nicholas Baima challenges the traditional notion that physical presence is essential for true friendship.
By examining ancient ethical theories, especially Aristotle's various forms of friendship, the episode debates whether online friendships can reach the purest form of friendship.
The conversation also addresses potential drawbacks, such as gaming culture's sometimes toxic behavior and the unique opportunities gaming affords for connecting people from diverse backgrounds.
Link to Nicholas Baima’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Its-OK-Be-Gamer/dp/1032312130
[00:00] Introduction to the Series and Guest
[00:20] Thought Experiment: Friendship in Gaming
[01:23] Debating the Nature of Virtual Friendships
[02:50] Philosophical Perspectives on Friendship
[04:30] Gaming and Ethical Theories
[11:53] Gaming as a Shared Adventure
[14:19] Idealization and Authenticity in Online Friendships
[24:59] The Depth of Gaming Friendships
[26:01] Aristotelian Friendship and Gaming
[27:12] Challenges of Maintaining Gaming Friendships
[28:28] The Social Dynamics of Online Gaming
[29:44] Toxicity and Anonymity in Online Gaming
[32:46] Game Design and Social Interactions
[35:14] Gender and Gaming Communities
[37:48] Gaming as Character Development
[44:03] The Value of Gaming Activities
[45:47] AI and the Illusion of Friendship
[48:09] Emotional Connections with Non-Playable Characters
[49:43] Concluding Thoughts on Friendship and Gaming
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Should we consider gaming as potentially addictive? Sarah Malanowski argues gaming is much like any other beneficial hobby: it provides a sense of community, challenge, and personal growth. She argues gaming is unfairly stigmatized, and should instead be seen as a valuable tool for growing character.
Link to Sarah’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Its-OK-Be-Gamer/dp/1032312130
[00:00] Introduction to the Discussion
[00:06] Thought Experiment: The New Hobby
[02:51] Cam's Story: A Real-Life Testimonial
[04:23] The Four Reasons for Gaming
[05:37] Contrasting Perspectives on Gaming
[06:03] The Physical vs. Virtual Social Connection
[07:59] The Ethics of Hobbies: Grave Robbing vs. Gaming
[09:49] Violence in Video Games: A Longstanding Debate
[16:35] Gaming Addiction: A Clinical Perspective
[20:25] Gaming's Potential Positive Impact
[27:55] The Stigma Around Gaming
[30:02] Gaming and Addiction: A Philosophical Perspective
[36:28] Evaluating the Worth of Different Games
[39:12] Ethics and Morality in Gaming
[43:26] Comparing Gaming to Other Activities
[52:43] Intrinsic Value of Gaming
[55:41] Conclusion
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What makes for good philosophy? How has philosophy impacted popular culture? Can sci-fi be good philosophy? And can we inspire philosophical inquiry despite not strictly adhering to rigorous philosophical methods?
[00:00] Introduction to Bad Philosophy
[00:51] The Repugnant Conclusion
[03:09] Criteria for Good Philosophy
[06:05] Examples of Good Philosophy
[06:26] Defining Bad Philosophy
[07:29] Critique of Continental Philosophy
[18:17] Philosophical Fiction and Pop Culture
[30:36] The Value of Teaching Philosophy
[34:03] Teaching Philosophy: Balancing Quality and Diversity
[39:35] Science Fiction and Philosophy
40:16 The Role of Fiction in Philosophical Thought Experiments
[53:59] Controversial Philosophical Arguments
[01:10:31] Meta-Philosophy and Peer Disagreement
[01:12:25] Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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Perry Hendricks argues that abortion restrictions are beneficial, especially to black women, by preventing them from engaging in what he presupposes is the wrongful act of abortion. The conversation critically examines the ethics of abortion, the impact of restrictions on black women, and the broader societal implications. We discuss paternalism, state authority, the moral status of embryos, and the consequences of imposing restrictions amidst uncertainty about the moral status of abortion.
[00:00] Introduction to the Abortion Debate with Perry Hendricks
[00:09] Thought Experiments on Moral Choices
[01:04] Exploring the Ethics of Abortion Restrictions
[04:02] The Objective vs. Subjective Well-being Debate
[08:15] Revisiting the Ethics and Implications of Abortion Restrictions
[12:01] The Complexities of Abortion Ethics and Societal Impacts
[29:58] Paternalism and Political Legitimacy in Abortion Laws
[34:09] Considering Unborn Children as Citizens: A Philosophical Inquiry
[40:17] The Impact of Abortion Restrictions on Different Groups
[47:40] Navigating Uncertainty in Abortion Ethics
[53:16] The Moral Quandary of Infanticide and Time Travel
[01:01:08] Academic Freedom and the Controversy of Publishing
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Nathan Cofnas argues that distinct populations have developed specific cognitive abilities due to varying environmental challenges.
The conversation explores the definition and validity of racial categorization from a biological perspective, addressing whether certain physical and cognitive differences among races have a genetic basis.
Nathan argues that acknowledging these differences does not necessitate negative social implications but rather an honest recognition of human biodiversity. The dialogue delves into the controversy surrounding race realism in academia, including censorship, accusations of racism, and the consequences of denying or accepting biological differences among races.
[00:00] Introduction to Race Realism Discussion
[00:27] Exploring Human Evolution and Genetic Diversity
[02:52] Debating the Reality and Definitions of Race
[06:16] The Semantic vs. Metaphysical Nature of Race
[12:53] Genetics, Intelligence, and Race
[27:26] Addressing Criticisms and Misunderstandings
[37:22] Social Implications and Policies on Racial Differences
[39:27] The End of Wokeism and the Future of Society
[40:14] Quotas and Representation: Navigating the Complexities
[41:37] The Role of Environment in Intelligence
[46:32] Race, Genetics, and Intelligence: A Controversial Intersection
[56:58] The Political and Social Implications of IQ and Race Research
[01:06:06] Navigating Academic Freedom and Controversy
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We welcome back Lionel Shriver to discuss her latest novel, 'Mania'. Shriver explores how egalitarian principles push us to ignore obvious truths about the world, particularly in discussions on transgender rights. She critiques the Left’s inclination to measure art and literature through the lens of political virtue.
Read Shriver’s book, ‘Mania’, here: https://www.amazon.com/Audible-Mania/dp/B0CRRXCMKD/
[00:00] Introduction to Lionel Shriver's 'Mania'
[00:05] Exploring the Premise of 'Mania' and Its Social Commentary
[01:12] The Allegory of Equality and Its Implications in 'Mania'
[06:47] The Reality Problem in Modern Ideologies
[10:14] The Impact of Ideology Over Merit in Society
[16:30] Literature and Politics: The Intersection in 'Mania'
[17:50] The Role of the Author in Literature's Reception
[24:02] Navigating Political and Social Manias in Fiction and Reality
[29:11] The Obligation to Confront Widely Believed False Ideas
[30:26] Navigating Moral Responsibility in Societal Manias
[32:36] The Protagonist's Struggle: Between Ideals and Reality
[34:14] The Vulnerability of Students to Ideological Manias
[35:23] Character Study: Emery's Opportunism and Adaptability
[36:20] The Intellectuals' Complicity in Trendy Ideologies
[38:37] The Rapid Shift in Academic Norms
[40:31] Decolonizing the Curriculum: A Critical Examination
[48:46] The Dangers of Utopianism and Totalitarian Tendencies
[51:46] The Novel's Conclusion: Reflecting on the Next Mania
[56:18] Valuing Excellence, Competence, and Beauty Over Political Virtue
[01:00:16] The Role of Humor and Entertainment in Literature
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A discussion on gun control, exploring philosophical, legal,and ethical aspects of the issue. Eric Samson offers a range of arguments andcounterarguments on the necessity and consequences of gun laws. Theconversation includes the right to self-defence, the impact of gun ownership onviolence and society, victims of violent crimes, and proposals for mitigatinggun violence without infringing on gun rights. Special attention is given tocontrasting views on police presence, the efficacy of gun bans, and thesocietal implications of widespread gun ownership versus tighter control.
[00:00] Introduction to the Show and Guests[00:27] Setting the Stage with a Hypothetical Scenario[01:31] Debating Gun Control: Rights vs. Safety[04:45] Exploring the Limits of Gun Ownership[11:32] The Practical Challenges of Gun Control[15:52] Considering the Impact of Gun Bans and Buybacks[23:54] Addressing the Complexity of Gun-Related Deaths[26:22] Exploring the Impulsivity of Gun Ownership[26:49] The Debate on Gun Rights and Government Intervention[27:43] Mass Shootings: Perception vs. Reality[28:37] Moral and Aesthetic Considerations in Gun Ownership[35:20] Practical Measures and Gun Control Proposals[44:47] Addressing the Role of Police in Society and Gun Control[48:03] Philosophical Perspectives on Gun Control and Society
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We speak with Father Afonso about the use of weapon systemsin warfare. The discussion explores a thought experiment involving two statesat war and the deployment of autonomous drones capable of targeting terrorists withouthuman intervention. Key topics include the legality and morality of suchsystems, the potential for reducing civilian casualties, the challenge ofmachine errors leading to war crimes, and the shifting responsibility indecision-making from humans to machines. The conversation also addresses thetechnological advances in AI, the issues of accountability and transparencywith autonomous systems, and the philosophical implications of removing humanjudgment from warfare. We examine potential future scenarios where autonomousweapons could be misused by non-state actors or influenced by automation bias,raising critical questions about the control, ethics, and implications ofadvanced AI in military and civilian contexts.
[00:00] Introduction to the Episode and Guest Co-Host Jimmy Mullen
[00:12] Exploring Autonomous Weapon Systems with Father Afonso
[00:55] The Ethical and Legal Quandaries of Autonomous Weapons
[03:01] The Evolution of Warfare and Technology's Role
[06:15] The Human Element in Modern Warfare and AI
[08:19] The Philosophical and Legal Challenges of Autonomous Weapons
[21:08] Addressing Accountability and the Future of AI in Warfare
[30:17] Defining AI and Its Legal Challenges
[31:05] The Future of AI and Moral Agency
[31:51] AI's Emotional Intelligence and Superintelligence
[32:50] Military Strategy and AI: A New Conscience?
[34:21] The Limitations of AI in Understanding Common Sense
[36:13] The Human Element in AI Development
[37:03] Autonomous Weapons Systems and the Essence of Humanity
[39:11] AI on the Battlefield: Efficiency vs. Ethics
[43:37] The Unpredictability of AI and Warfare
[50:45] AI's Role Beyond the Battlefield
[56:27] The Collective Mind and Autonomous Systems
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We begin by imagining a world where children are separated by sex at birth and raised without exposure to traditional gender norms. We debate whether gender incongruence is a result of nature or social conditioning. We discuss gender affirming care for children, highlighting the complexity of diagnosing gender dysphoria amidst co-occurring psychiatric conditions and the potential influence of social contagion. Key insights include questioning the lack of robust evidence for the efficacy of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, and the need for comprehensive psychosocial care before considering medical transition. The Cass Review was released after we recorded our conversation, but we address similar concerns.
00:00 Introduction to the Thought Experiment
00:10 Exploring Gender Segregation and Its Impacts
02:22 Debating the Existence of Gender Incongruence
03:28 The Social Construction of Gender and Its Medical Implications
04:48 Sexual Orientation in a Segregated Society
13:37 Challenging the Medicalization of Gender Diversity
25:26 Transracialism and Personal Identity Choices
31:41 Medical Risks and Ethical Dilemmas in Gender Transition
41:38 Exploring the Regulation of Cross-Sex Hormones
42:11 The Uncertainty of Medical Interventions and Autonomy
44:49 The Complexities of Gender Dysphoria Treatment
45:43 Evaluating the Risks and Benefits of Paediatric Transition
48:39 The Debate on Consent and Medical Ethics
51:38 Addressing Comorbidities in Gender Dysphoria Treatment
58:45 The Role of Social Phenomena in Gender Dysphoria
01:11:17 Examining the Evidence and Ethics of Puberty Blockers
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Peter Singer delves into difficult ethicalquestions regarding animal rights, the morality of factory farming, anddifficult human-related ethical dilemmas.
Singer discusses his views as aconsequentialist, examining the impact of our choices on animal suffering, theethical considerations around organ donation from anencephalic children, andthe broader implications of such decisions.
What are the moral implications of eatingmeat from factory farms versus ethically raised animals, and cannibalism underhypothetical scenarios with no harm to others?
Singer emphasizes the need for consideringthe consequences of our actions, shedding light on the pressing need to reformour food production systems and make more ethical choices in our daily lives.
Peter Singer’s Substack: https://substack.com/profile/4270932-peter-singer
Peter Singer’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@peter_singer
Peter Singer’s book, ‘Animal LiberationNow’: https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Liberation-Now-Definitive-Classic/dp/0063226707
00:00 A Philosophical Dive into AnimalRights with Peter Singer
00:12 Exploring the Ethical Dilemmas ofHuman and Animal Lives
01:59 The Complexities of Organ Donationfrom Anencephalic Children
03:57 Comparing Human and Animal Rights inMedical Contexts
06:08 Consequentialism and Individual CaseAnalysis in Ethics
07:42 The Ethical Quandaries of ParentalConsent and Medical Decisions
15:54 Navigating the Slippery Slope ofEuthanasia and Assisted Dying
25:41 The Ethical Considerations of EatingMeat and Factory Farming
33:29 The Harsh Realities of FactoryFarming
34:45 Ethical Considerations and the Natureof Animal Suffering
36:50 Addressing Common Objections toAnimal Rights
41:12 The Impact of Individual Choices onAnimal Suffering
43:43 The Role of Vegetarianism andVeganism in Reducing Demand for Meat
01:00:46 Exploring the Ethical Implicationsof Consuming Expired or Discarded Meat
01:04:50 Concluding Thoughts andReflections
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John Martin Fischer argues that lifeconstantly offers new experiences and perspectives that prevent it frombecoming monotonous.
He delves into the idea of living asignificantly extended life without aging and the implications it has onpersonal identity and society at large. Fischer distinguishes between trueimmortality and radical life extension, favoring the latter for its exitstrategy options.
The conversation covers the value of lifeexperiences, the philosophical questions around personal identity over time,and the ethical considerations of immortal life.
00:00 Introduction to Immortality with JohnMartin Fischer
00:16 The Library Analogy: Exploring theConcept of Living Forever
01:26 Challenging the Library Analogy: ANew Perspective on Immortality
03:49 Addressing the Potential Fatigue ofImmortality
06:52 The Elixir of Eternal Life: A ThoughtExperiment
09:03 The Philosophical Debate on the IdealAge for Immortality
38:42 The Social and Ethical Implicationsof Immortality
48:34 Personal Choice vs. Societal Impact:The Immortality Dilemma
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Stephen Cave unpacks the ethical and practical problems of living forever. He highlights ongoing research in anti-aging and the potential societal and ecological catastrophes that could follow if humans were to achieve immortality.
Stephen weighs the individual’s desire for immortality against social implications, and the potential exacerbation of social injustices. The discussion also addresses technological possibilities like consciousness uploading and the philosophical implications of personal identity, memory, and morality.
The conversation navigates the complexities of life extension technologies, questioning the nature of what it means to live a meaningful life.
00:00 Welcome to the Immortality Debate
00:27 Exploring the Possibility of Living Forever
01:57 The Ethical Dilemmas of Immortality
05:03 Addressing Overpopulation and Societal Collapse
07:26 The Underpopulation Counterargument
09:09 The Philosophical and Practical Aspects of Life Extension
11:23 Space Colonization: A Feasible Solution?
13:01 The Ethical Quandary of Life Extension Pills
19:04 Addressing Social Justice in the Context of Immortality
24:30 The Boredom Argument Against Immortality
28:08 Exploring the Infinite Possibilities of AI and Immortality
28:26 The Philosophical Dilemma of Immortality and Ennui
30:26 Considering the Ethics and Legality of Suicide
31:12 The Rationality of Suicide in an Immortal Life
32:44 The Sorites Paradox and Life Extension
34:02 The Practical Challenges of Life Extension Policies
34:58 Dystopian Scenarios in Immortality and Central Planning
37:27 The Concept of Personal Identity and Immortality
40:38 Consciousness Uploading: A Dystopian Idea?
45:23 Personal Identity, Memory, and Augmentation
49:01 The Philosophical Exploration of Ennui and Meaninglessness
53:00 Immortality in Mythology and the Quest for Novel Experiences
54:58 Reimagining Immortality and Embracing Finitude
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Featuring Stephen Kershnar, we discuss the complexities of immigration ethics, the rights to immigrate, and the morality of borders, keeping in mind debates around wealth, exclusion, and property rights.
Stephen considers consequentialist and deontological perspectives in immigration policies, the notion of collective versus individual rights, and the philosophical implications on national identity and personal liberty.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:16 Discussion on Immigration
01:05 Thought Experiment on Immigration
02:57 Debate on Collective Ownership and Immigration
04:23 Exploring the Rights of Immigrants
04:34 Dilemma of Immigration in a Private Island Scenario
05:03 Debate on the Right to Life and Immigration
08:28 Discussion on Collective Decision Making
10:22 Exploring the Concept of Citizenship
11:18 Debate on Collective Ownership of a Country
20:09 Discussion on the Consequences of Immigration
27:46 Debate on National Self Interest and Immigration
34:39 Exploring the Concept of Citizenship
35:48 Analogies and Disanalogies in Citizenship
36:38 Consequences of Citizenship Revocation
37:34 Consequentialist Discussion on Immigration
39:15 The Utility of Immigration
41:46 The Right to Evict: A Discussion
42:01 The Case of Refugees and Birthright Citizenship
46:16 The Consequences of Open Borders
48:32 The Impact of Immigration on Population Growth
01:00:08 The Dilemma of Local Control and Freedom of Movement
01:06:42 The Value of Collective Property in Immigration
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Trond Undheim delves into catastrophic risks facing humanity, including climate change, governance breakdown, and technological threats.
Through discussions of risk perception, effective planning versus worry, and the complexities of managing existential threats, Trond emphasizes the importance of preparing and adapting for uncertain futures.
How should we think about potential future crises, the role of technology in exacerbating or mitigating risks, and the moral obligations of contemporary society to future generations?
00:00 Introduction and Guest Presentation
00:08 Imagining the World in 2075
00:26 The Impact of World Conflicts and Climate Change
01:03 The Rise of Organized Crime and Economic Divide
02:08 The Future of Medical Technologies and Lifespan
02:54 Reflections on the Turning Point of the Century
04:14 Understanding Risk and Worry
04:53 The Role of Planning and Thriving in Risk Management
06:35 The Potential of Giga Projects and Modular Solutions
07:40 The Dilemma of Investing in Uncertain Events
08:41 The Existential Risk of Asteroid Collision
11:27 The Responsibility of Future Generations
13:49 The Complexity of Catastrophic Risk
22:13 The Potential Risks by 2075
46:01 The Role of Community in Risk Mitigation
47:41 The Challenge of Collective Action in Preventing Catastrophe
53:25 Conclusion: The Importance of Good Intent in Systemic Understanding
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In this episode of 'Brain In A Vat', Hans Gutbrod addresses the gap in philosophy in understanding the ethics around statues, street names, and museums.
By drawing parallels to just war theory, Gutbrod proposes a framework to navigate the complexities of commemorating historical figures and events. The discussion also touches upon the potential for altering commemorative symbols to preserve memory while adapting their messages.
This episode probes the moral and aesthetic considerations of how societies remember their past.
00:00 Introduction and Thought Experiment
01:31 The Gap in Philosophy and Ethics
02:47 The Ethics of Representations of the Past
03:19 The Role of Metaphysics in Commemoration
03:48 The Influence of History and Philosophy on Commemoration
04:42 The Impact of Statues and Memorials on Public Perception
06:30 The Ethics of Political Commemoration
09:38 The Criteria for Erecting and Keeping Statues
10:36 The Role of Intent in Commemoration
12:11 The Role of Empirical Research in Commemoration
13:17 The Challenges of Commemorating the Past
15:05 The Complexity of Commemoration
19:04 The Scope and Vagueness of Commemoration
21:54 The Role of Conversation in Commemoration
26:38 The Role of Vagueness in Commemoration
28:05 The Complexity of Erecting Statues
28:32 Perspectives from the Caucasus
28:58 Reframing the Debate: The Case of Georgia
30:00 Street Names and Shadows of the Past
30:57 The Role of Art in Commemoration
31:43 The Sackler Controversy and the Power of Art
32:40 The Value of Preservation and Enriching Debate
33:06 The Risk of Over-Inclusivity
33:29 The Osama Bin Laden Hypothetical
34:54 Addressing the Vagueness Problem
36:20 The Ethics of Political Commemoration
37:56 The Challenge of Deciding on Statues
41:30 The Power of Artistic Alteration
45:53 The Holocaust Memorial in Berlin: A Case Study
53:12 The Role of Aesthetics in Commemoration
55:31 The Personal Engagement with Commemoration
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In this special episode of Brain in a Vat, Brad Duchaine from the Psychological and Brain Sciences Department at Dartmouth discusses prosopometamorphopsia (PMO) – a condition where individuals see distorted faces.
The episode explores various manifestations of PMO, including seeing demonic features, dragons, or entirely different faces, and distinguishes it from prosopagnosia (face blindness). It delves into the neurological basis of PMO, touching upon structural and functional differences in the brains of those affected.
We discuss the significant impact PMO and prosopagnosia have on individuals' social interactions and quality of life, as well as potential management techniques such as using glasses or colored lights to reduce distortions.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Presentation
00:20 Exploring the Case of Face Distortion
03:19 Understanding the Nature of Distortions
05:49 Comparing Prosopagnosia and PMO
07:17 The Role of Visual System in Face Recognition
10:01 Impact of Face Recognition on Social Interactions
14:16 The Spectrum of Face Recognition Abilities
16:20 The Role of AI and Hallucinations in Face Recognition
23:48 Understanding the Diagnosis of Face Recognition Disorders
30:20 Understanding Prosopagnosia: Prevalence and Characteristics
31:59 The Mystery of PMO: Prevalence and Need for More Research
32:46 Exploring the Impact of Prosopagnosia and PMO on Social and Sexual Relationships
33:23 The Intersection of PMO and Other Psychiatric Conditions
37:03 The Struggles and Challenges of Living with Prosopagnosia and PMO
41:02 Potential Treatments and Coping Mechanisms for PMO
51:22 The Neurological Basis of PMO and Prosopagnosia
54:51 Testing and Characterizing PMO: A Deep Dive into Research Methods
59:54 Understanding the Perception and Processing of Faces in PMO
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We welcome back Nadine Strossen for a comprehensive discussion about pornography and free speech. She highlights points from her re-released book 'Defending Pornography', explaining why she supports the freedom of sexual expression. Her thought experiment is about a respected academic who makes adult videos, raising questions about personal freedom, professional reputability, and potential harm to his university. She also explores the complex relationship between pornography, liberty, and equality, emphasizing that context matters when considering whether freedom of speech overrides other concerns. The conversation also touches on whether pornography subordinates women, Nadine underlines that she defends the right to pornography not because she is an aficionado, but because she believes in individual choices.(00:00) Introduction and Guest Presentation(00:37) Understanding Pornography and Free Speech(02:00) Controversies Surrounding Pornography(02:12) Case Study: Provost's Scandal(03:22) Debate on the Provost's Case(03:54) Exploring the Concept of Academic Freedom(05:10) Counter Argument: The Question of Judgment(06:43) The Impact of Sexual Taboos(07:30) The Role of the American Association of University Professors(08:16) Discussion on the Provost's First Amendment Claim(12:12) The Shift in Pornography Production(17:58) The Debate on Virtual Child Pornography(27:14) The Feminist Perspective on Pornography(40:13) Understanding the Real Case of Subordination(40:29) The Role of Subordination in Fantasy and Pornography(41:05) The Radical Feminist Anti-Pornography Movement(41:56) Analyzing Media and Subordinating Imagery(42:45) The Impact of Subordinating Imagery(42:59) The Irony of Anti-Pornography Activism(43:58) The Controversy of Subordinating Images in Public Spaces(45:05) The Role of Pornography in Society(46:15) The Popularity and Impact of Pornography(47:31) The Positive Benefits of Pornography(48:30) Balancing Liberty and Equality in Free Speech(55:02) The Intersection of Hate Speech and Pornography(01:00:02) The Egalitarian Nature of Pornography(01:05:48) The Controversy of Being a 'Minority Intellectual Dissident'--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/braininavat/message
Can the definition of privilege be nuanced enough to address the broad range of individual experiences and historical contexts? Does recognizing and discussing privilege lead to meaningful social change? Or does talk of privilege oversimplify complex issues?
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Is observing people in a public space from the privacy of your home an infringement of their rights? Can the widespread use of CCTV cameras be justified, or does it violate their privacy? And how do technological developments affect the delicate balance between safety and privacy?
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What if our understanding of morality is fundamentally flawed? Should the absence of objective moral facts alter the way we live and interact? Is the structure of our society dependent on moral beliefs, or are these just a result of individual desires and social evolution?
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Is morality real, a social construct, or non-existent? Can we rely on our moral intuitions? And are moral truths inaccessible to us?
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What is a proportional response to a terrorist attack? What does genocide involve? And is South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice justified?Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason WerbeloffEditor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen and Porter KaufmanBrain in a Vat bookshop (Shopify): https://smarturl.it/BrainShopBrain in a Vat bookshop (Amazon): https://smarturl.it/BrainAmazonShop
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Does the biology you were born with trump self-identity when determining your sex or gender? Is gender innate, or can it change? And what can real-life cases of children being reassigned their sex at birth teach us?
Alex's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Trouble-Gender-Sex-Facts-Fictions/dp/1509560017/
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John Rawls is widely regarded as the greatest modern liberal philosopher. Does his theory of justice lead to a fair society?
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Is there life after death? Are near-death experiences meaningful? Are they similar to other altered states like meditation and drug-induced hallucinations?
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Andy Kuper, the founder and CEO of LeapFrog Investments, tells us how his PHD in philosophy led him to marry profit with purpose, by creating investment funds with deep impact on the lives of 200 million low-income people worldwide, while generating strong returns for its investors and the companies in which it invests.
https://leapfroginvest.com
Andy's Book Democracy Beyond Borders: https://www.amazon.com/Democracy-Beyond-Borders-Representation-Institutions-ebook-dp-B000WNHG48/dp/B000WNHG48/
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Is evolution the root cause of racism, rape, and disgust? Are differences between men and women a result of both nature and nurture? Are some forms of scientific inquiry too dangerous to allow?
Justin's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Biological-Mind-Philosophical-Introduction/dp/0367466317
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Lia Thomas, a trans woman, has sparked controversy by competing in and winning women’s collegiate swimming events. Should Thomas and other trans athletes be allowed to compete in the gendered competition of their choice?
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Could you be a brain in a vat, or be living in a simulated or virtual reality? Could you live a meaningful, valuable existence even if you were?
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Does the State protect or curtail freedom? Are communities more important than individuals? Should freedom be constrained by virtue?
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Black Mirror's episode, White Bear, is full of interesting philosophical problems. Are you still responsible for a crime you committed even if you've lost your memory of that crime? Do you persist through time despite amnesia? And what are the limits of justified punishment for horrendous crimes?
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Do your current moral values require you to stop eating meat? Will going vegan actually prevent animal cruelty? Is the vegan movement a force for good?
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Are Jews entitled to their own homeland? Is the Israeli response to the massacre of civilians perpetrated by Hammas on October 7th justified? Should there be a ceasefire?
David's Article in Quillette: https://quillette.com/2023/10/21/its-not-the-occupation/
Raja Halwani wrote to us about Jason's exposition of his view at 38:50. Here is Raja's clarification:
**I wanted to clarify a point that Jason made during the interview with David Benatar. Jason asked Benatar what he thought of the view that “the view is that the Gazans are an oppressed people. They’ve been oppressed for so long that they’ve acted out of desperation. And there’s only two options that they have.” Jason goes on to say that I have defended the view that “the Gazans are an oppressed people who only have two options. The one option is to die and the other option is to attack, to attack Israel in order to secure some sort of freedom. Those are its only two options. And so ... Raja takes the view that if Hamas were to lay down its arms, then it’s just a slow death for the Gazans. That’s, that would be the future of Gaza.”
However, I did not make this claim about having only two options, nor would I, because it reads as a justification of killing civilians, especially given the context of the Hamas attacks of October 7 (and other attacks against Israelis). It reads as a justification because if death is one of only two options, then the second, to attack, seems permissible. The last sentence in Jason’s question, about Hamas laying down its arms, seems to especially imply this (though Jason did not intend to make me come out as justifying Hamas’s actions).
Jason attributes this view to me based on something I wrote in my blog (as he explained to me in personal correspondence). Here is the specific passage on which Jason bases his attribution:
People are quick to condemn Hamas for the evil that it has wrought, but they are as quick to neglect that Hamas acts out of sheer desperation, out of the sheer desire, no matter how steep the price, to score a victory against Israel, a country whose military might not even its prime ministers fully comprehend, and out of the sheer hopelessness of the slow death that their people has been dying. Although to explain this is not to justify it, I also ask the reader: What options do the Palestinians have? What do you advise them to do? Their lives are going nowhere. Peace initiative after peace initiative has failed them (and, to add insult to injury, they are blamed for the failure). No Palestinian state has emerged, and none is likely to given the current map (just look and see whether a state can be built out of the Swiss cheese that is the West Bank). Their tunnel has been long and with no light at its end. So what should they do? They ought to sit still and “take it like a man.” To suck it up. To bear the unfair burden of history. We have to tell them, “Misfortune has fallen upon you, and you may not extricate yourselves from it by killing civilians. Even as you yourselves die, slowly, surely, with no justification, and with barely an explanation, you may not take the lives of the civilians of your enemy. This is the noble way.”
Clearly, the passage is a bitter one about Palestinian loss and oppression, but it is as clearly morally ruling out the option of killing civilians. So even though Hamas might take up arms against civilians, this is not a morally viable options for Gazans or Palestinians in general. Hence, insofar as Jason’s question attributes to me a justification of attacks on civilians, this clarification should clarify that this is not my position.**
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This older conversation about war sheds light on the current conflict in Israel and Gaza. Are soldiers fighting for the wrong side ever justified in killing? Should we punish these soldiers even if they were coerced by their State to fight? And is it ever justified to kill civilians? Read Jeff's book here: amazon.com/Killing-War-Uehiro-Practical-Ethics/dp/019960357X
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Are women generally exploited in pornography? Even in cases where women report that their pornography career is empowering, have they nevertheless been degraded? And if heterosexual pornography undermines women’s dignity, is this true of gay male pornography too?
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Should we be allowed to sell our organs on the open market? Would the poor be exploited under such a system? And does organ donation impose an unfair burden on the relatives of those that need a transplant?
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Is the restriction on having additional sexual or romantic partners similar to the restriction on having additional friends? Should you allow your partner to be free to pursue other partners? And are we able to overcome the jealousy associated with non-monogamy?
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Does the clone of a murderer deserve to be punished? Is the clone with the murderer’s memories and dispositions guilty of the murder? And has justice been served if the clone is punished, even if the original murderer goes free?
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Was dropping the bomb on Hiroshima justified? Is Ken the real star of Barbie? Three Oppenheimers weigh in on the film event of the year.Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason WerbeloffEditor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen and Porter KaufmanBrain in a Vat bookshop (Shopify): https://smarturl.it/BrainShopBrain in a Vat bookshop (Amazon): https://smarturl.it/BrainAmazonShopContact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail
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Is it permissible for members of one group to appropriate the cultural practices of another? Is there anything wrong with cultural appropriation at all, or are there benefits to cultural appropriation?
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Is sex work actually work? Is prostitution always a form of exploitation? And show we legalize or decriminalize prostitution?
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Recently, Eron Fasser and Mark Oppenheimer debated Hamza Tzortzis and Mohammed Hijab on whether Atheism or is Islam more rational. This episode discusses the arguments made and strategies employed by both sides. Were Hamza and Mohammed arguing in good faith? Or were they trying to derail a debate they were clearly losing?
Would it be better to live forever than to die? Is the goodness or badness of death dependent on the future quality of our lives? Is death so bad that it would be better never to have been born?
Travis' Book: Exploring the Philosophy of Death and Dying https://www.amazon.com/Exploring-Philosophy-Death-Dying-Contemporary/dp/1138393584/
What is knowledge? Does a justified true belief count as knowledge? And is our knowledge lucky?
Parfit altered the landscape of the philosophy of identity. We speak to David Edmonds about his recently released biography on this influential philosopher, and ask: what made Parfit the man he was?
A debate held at the University of Johannesburg. Does God Exist? How can something come from nothing? Are God's commands moral?
Would the world be better if we didn’t recognize genders?
In such a world, there would be males and females, but nothing associated with what it means to be male or female other than biological facts. Men and women would be equally likely to be social leaders. And there would be no stereotypically male or female behavior.
In this world, there’d be true sex equality, and, it seems, no need for trans activists. Should we fight for such a world?
Mark Oppenheimer presents a live seminar at St Andrews. The talk features footage from a prominent hate speech trial that Mark appeared in as a lawyer. What is hate speech? What is the value of free speech? Do some groups deserve special protection against hate speech?
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen and Porter Kaufman
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Oxford University Press refused to publish Alex Byrne's book on gender. We discuss whether women are adult human females and whether sex is the same as gender.
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen and Porter Kaufman
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Experiencing grief at the death of a person we love or who matters to us―as universal as it is painful―is central to the human condition. In Grief, Michael Cholbi presents a groundbreaking philosophical exploration of this complex emotional event, offering valuable new insights about what grief is, whom we grieve, and how grief can ultimately lead us to a richer self-understanding and a fuller realization of our humanity.
Michael's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Grief-Philosophical-Guide-Michael-Cholbi/dp/069120179X/
Should we implement affirmative action when determining which students are admitted to universities? Should affirmative action be based on race or socio-economic status? Is diversity important when deciding on university admissions? And should we think about race and gender in the same way when considering affirmative action?
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen and Porter Kaufman
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As technology improves, ethical problems deepen too. Flying cars and ChatGPT are convenient, but may benefit some at the cost of harming others. Is the future convenient and full of promise, or should we fear a dystopian apocalypse?
Do we have ethical obligations to all animals or only cute and majestic ones? Is factory farming worse than hunting? We answered these questions and more at a live event hosted by The Inside Out Center for the Arts. https://insideoutcentreforthearts.com/
Is a two state solution desirable to resolve the Arab Israeli conflict? Does Israel have the right to be a Jewish state? Do other states have an obligation to help resolve the conflict?
Are human beings social creatures? Do social groups have an important role to play in political life? Can hermits lead meaningful lives?
Are some ideas too controversial to publish in your own name? Is it cowardly to use a pseudonym? Does the journal for controversial ideas ghettoize important topics?
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason WerbeloffEditor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen and Porter KaufmanBrain in a Vat bookshop (Shopify): https://smarturl.it/BrainShopBrain in a Vat bookshop (Amazon): https://smarturl.it/BrainAmazonShop
Should we preserve monuments, even if they offend us? Do we have a right to call for monuments to be removed in other countries? Does Ghengis Khan deserve a monument?
Traditionally, we celebrate American soldiers with strong displays of gratitude, including national holidays and monuments. But is this gratitude warranted? Stephen Kershnar thinks not: we should be no more grateful to veterans than to farmers or loggers.
Is it wrong to bring new life into the world? Is adopting a child a moral obligation? Is parenting meaningful?
What do anti-semites and ultra orthodox Jews have in common? How did the ivy league discriminate against Jews? Is America still a safe haven for Jews?
Is it possible for us to lead meaningful lives? Is there an ultimate point to our existence? Can we enrich our lives with the pursuit of love, knowledge and friendship?
Will technology improve or worsen our lives? And should social media and AI be used to prevent hurtful speech?
Why do we laugh at some jokes but not at others? Is dark humor always funnier? Should some comedians be censored?
Should we implement affirmative action when determining which students are admitted to universities? Should affirmative action be based on race or socio-economic status? Is diversity important when deciding on university admissions? And should we think about race and gender in the same way when considering affirmative action?
Were indoctrinated or brainwashed Nazi soldiers morally responsible for their actions? Were they responsible for their repugnant beliefs? And were Nazi soldiers obligated to be conscientious objectors even if that meant they would be killed as a result?
Should you be required to get a parental license from the State before you can raise your own children? Do the wishes of parents matter at all – or should we only care about the best interests of their children?
Should you fear future pain even if your future self will not remember who you are now? If an identical copy of you is created, would you survive through that copy? And is it possible to survive gaps in your existence?
In a world where machines can seemingly generate art instantly, and often better than humans can, should we feel sorry for artists? But is AI really generating art - or is it something else? And if it is art, who is the artist - the AI or the prompter?
James's covers for sale: https://www.goonwrite.com/
Conversations about Philosophy books: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0987XX8M2
Jason's most popular sci-fi novel: https://www.amazon.com/Defragmenting-Daniel-Organ-Scrubber-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B01H5RE6LY
How do we weigh the needs of cats to roam freely, with the millions of birds they kill each year? What duties do we owe our pets? And are some animals more valuable than others?
Buy the books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0987XX8M2
What are your favorite episodes of Brain in a Vat? We've taken ours and made them into books. With special forewords from leading philosophers and exclusive debates between guests, these books bring you the best content we have in an easily digestible format.
Buy your books now: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0987XX8M2
Kershnar presents a dilemma: we’re responsible for our decisions because they’re caused by our psychology. But do we choose our psychology? If we do, then it seems that choice couldn’t have been a morally responsible choice, since our psychology didn’t choose it. But if we didn’t choose our psychology, then we can’t be responsible for the choices that come from our psychology.
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen
Mark and Jason join their producer in this retrospective season finale.
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen
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What does it all mean? If we live on a pail blue dot in a vast and uncaring universe can our lives have cosmic meaning? Is it better never to have been born?
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen
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Do we have a right to sex, and is there an obligation to sexually fulfill the disabled? Should sex work be not only legal, but obligatory?
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen
Should we remove offensive monuments at the cost of erasing history? Is there an unacceptable cost to open borders? And what would a just tax system look like?
Hosts: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Producer: Jimmy Mullen
Are moral facts baked into reality, the way facts about socks or rocks are? Or should we think about morality in a more pragmatic way: that it doesn’t matter whether ethics are ‘in the world’ – only that ethics guide our actions effectively?
Andrew’s Book, ‘Pragmatist Quietism’: https://www.andrewsepielli.com/book-pragmatist-quietism
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen
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Why should we punish the guilty? Is it because they’ve done something wrong, to remove them from society, or to dissuade others from wrongdoing?
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen
Utilitarians and Kantians struggle to account for the care we should provide loved ones over strangers.
Can Ubuntu, or African Ethics, provide a framework that resolves this problem?
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen
Could we be systematically mistaken about the world around us? Would we be wrong about everything if we turned out to be a brain in a vat, a mind manipulated by an evil demon, or born into a virtual simulation?
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen
Is lying ever justified? Is it permissible to kill one innocent person to save many others? Learn more about the views of one of the greatest philosophers of the 20th Century.
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen
Philosophy as Dialogue: https://www.amazon.com/Philosophy-as-Dialogue-Hilary-Putnam/dp/0674281357/
Is racial profiling always wrong, even if used by an AI to decrease crime? Should we use AI to judge criminal cases, recommend sentences for the guilty, or decide parole for prisoners?
Do reporters have special moral obligations? Is it ever justified for governments to shut down newspapers? Should private companies like Paypal be allowed to deplatform journalists?
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen
Dan Shahar defends the view that eating meat is permissible, even though meat farming is not. Is this a coherent position?
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen
Is gender a social construct? Is gender distinct from sex? And can you be wrong in your beliefs about your own gender?
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen
Should Judges decide if and when women are entitled to abort their pregnancies? Should this choice be left up to congress? If abortion is immoral, should it be illegal?
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen
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www.markoppenheimer.co.za
What exactly makes us feel disgusted? Is disgust for a person or group ever justified? And is disgust useful, or should we try to eliminate it?
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen
Do defectors generally do something wrong when they contradict their group's values or beliefs? And is it permissible for the group to silence them, especially if it's a minority group?
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen
Are transathletes a minority group that warrant special protection? Is the purpose of sport to be inclusive or fair? Should the Olympics exclude the best athletes because they are professionals?
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen
If most voters are misinformed, is democracy legitimate? What sort of voting system should we have in its place? And should some votes count more than others?
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen
Is immortality a blessing or a curse? Would eternal life be boring, meaningless, and amoral?
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen
Why is free speech valuable? Should there be any limits on what we are allowed to say? Should we tolerate words that are hateful?
Hosted by Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Produced and Edited by James Mullen
How do scientists and philosophers work together to make progress on the nature of the cosmos, the meaning of life, and what it means to flourish? The John Templeton Foundation funds work on the intersection of philosophy and science in some of the most important questions of our time.
Hosted by Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Edited and Produced by James Mullen
Can music be objectively good (or bad)? How should we understand fundamental disagreement about preferences and values? And should philosophical discussion be theory driven or should we use another methodology?
Are we obligated to save strangers? Does it matter whether those strangers are in different countries or our in own? And even if we are not obligated, have we done something wrong if we help but not in the most efficient way possible?
Theron's book: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-rules-of-rescue-9780190884147?q=pummer&lang=en&cc=us
Hosted by Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbleoff
Produced by Jimmy Mullen
What makes a good apology? Are we ever obligated to apologize even though we did nothing wrong? And how should we deal with apologies in this highly politicized landscape?
Hosted by Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Edited and produced by James Mullen
Everything Everywhere All at Once is a magnificent mess. The film raises questions around the meaning of life, the nature of the multiverse, and how we should understand free will in a world filled with counterfactuals.
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen
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When is death preferable to living? Are there fates worse than death? And what sort of future society should we build?
Lionel Shriver discusses her latest novel, Should We Stay or Should We Go
Hosted by Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Edited and Produced by James Mullen
Ben Stiller's superb series, Severance, raises fascinating questions about the nature of personal identity. Are we minds or brains? Is it possible for two persons to inhabit the same body? And can a person survive gaps in their existence?
Hosted by Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Edited and Produced by James Mullen
As Russia wages an unjust war against Ukraine, questions around the ethics of war abound. Are soldiers fighting for the wrong side ever justified in killing? Should we punish these soldiers even if they were coerced by their State to fight? And is it ever justified to kill civilians?
Read Jeff's book here: amazon.com/Killing-War-Uehiro-Practical-Ethics/dp/019960357X
Hosted by Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Edited and Produced by James Mullen
What is an "Aha" moment, and why does it matter for our lives? Sophie Grace Chappel argues that our ethics and value system should be formed around our epiphanies.
Hosted by Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Edited and Produced by James Mullen
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Could you be a brain in a vat, or be living in a simulated or virtual reality? Could you live a meaningful, valuable existence even if you were?
Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Editor and Producer: Jimmy Mullen
Why is the truth important? Who decides what the truth is? Is there such a thing as objective, eternal truth, or is truth simply a matter of perspective, of linguistic or cultural vantage point?
Simon's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Truth-Simon-Blackburn/dp/0190867213
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What is creativity and how does it work? Is all creativity valuable? What are the pre-conditions for creativity, and how should Jason overcome his writer's block?
If everything was created by a cause, is God the creator of the Universe? Is God an uncaused cause? Could God have abandoned his creation?
Majesty of Reason: https://www.youtube.com/c/MajestyofReason
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Lia Thomas, a trans woman, has sparked controversy by competing in and winning women’s collegiate swimming events. Should Thomas and other trans athletes be allowed to compete in the gendered competition of their choice?
Is evolution the root cause of racism, rape, and disgust? Are differences between men and women a result of both nature and nurture? Are some forms of scientific inquiry too dangerous to allow?
Justin's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Biological-Mind-Philosophical-Introduction/dp/0367466317
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Dune contains a sophisticated moral dilemma - should Paul Atreides sacrifice billions of lives to avoid humanity's extinction? The answer echoes through the way we should deal with global climate change today.
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Some of the world's greatest discoveries were made by those on the fringe. Should scientists be encouraged to explore crazy ideas? Does the search for truth depend more on geniuses or a social butterflies?
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Is your sexual orientation determined by the sex or the gender of the person you’re attracted to? How does gender fluidity impact sexual orientation? Are there other sexual orientations like demisexuality, sapiosexuality and more?
How important is it to treat people with dignity, or respect? Do institutions and groups, rather than individuals, owe us dignity? And if we have to choose, should we strive for a society that is dignified or a society that is happy?
Colin’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Human-Dignity-Political-Criticism-Colin/dp/1108832024
Are Jean Jacques Rousseau's confessions trustworthy? Can we consciously decide to forget our sins? Should we be held accountable for all of our actions, including the ones we don't intend?
Should citizens have the right to bear arms? Are guns necessary to defend yourself from criminals, invading militants, and your own government? Should guns be banned because of school shootings, suicides, and accidental deaths?
Should we sacrifice our time and convenience to save animals? Jeff Sebo argues we must, but more than that, it's in our self-interest to do so.
Jeff's book: https://www.amazon.com/Saving-Animals-Ourselves-Pandemics-Catastrophes-ebook/dp/B09RKHL8QB
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Is there life after death? Are near-death experiences meaningful? Are they similar to other altered states like meditation and drug induced hallucinations?
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Travis Timmerman shows us what can we learn about morality, democracy, and exploitation from Squid Game.
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Is it possible to be morally responsible for a choice even if you could not have chosen otherwise? Can you have free will even if God knows ahead of time what you are about to choose? John Fischer argues the answer is yes.
Does a fetus have a right to its mother's womb? Are we obligated to have as many children as possible? And must pro-lifers assassinate abortion doctors?
We recently aired an episode with Stephen Kershnar on sexual taboos. A clip from that episode has been viewed over a million times on Twitter, and on many news channels. We address the controversy surrounding Stephen's position.
Should there be an age of consent? Is it wrong to fantasize about someone against their will? Is it wrong to lust after someone because of their race?
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What makes the 'you' of yesterday the same 'you' today? Should we care about future people who don't yet exist, and should we prevent climate change if it means preventing people from coming into existence?
Is there a core to who we are that is unchanging or unique? Do people have characters, personalities, or neither?
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In our final episode for 2021, we reveal a surprise we've been working on all year, and tell you about the exciting episodes planned for 2022.
Destructive forces have been eroding the University of Cape Town, Africa’s leading university. David Benatar tells the sad, true tale of what has been transpiring. It is a saga of lunacy, criminality, pandering, and identity politics. The mad and the bad – the deranged, deluded, the depraved – have been granted endless latitude in bullying and abusing others.
What are possible worlds? Could you have been born to different parents, and could the laws of physics be different? Barry Lam explains how David Lewis’s views on possible worlds can help us understand everything from the nature of time to free will.
Listen to more of Barry’s episodes on David Lewis on Hi-Phi nation here: https://hiphination.org/season-5/
Is it possible to hope for something good, but feel despair that it won't happen? Is it virtuous to feel hopeful? Can hoping make you act recklessly?
In a world where we disagree about pretty much everything - about borders and abortion, marriage and monogamy, wars and meat-eating - how do you maintain confidence in your own moral position? And can you convince the moral nihilist you're right?
Marginalized people, animals, found objects, wires and childlike drawings inhabit the unlocatable worlds presented in Ballen's artworks. Ballen describes his works as existential psychodramas that touch the subconscious mind and evoke the underbelly of the human condition. They aim to break through the repressed thoughts and feelings by engaging him in themes of chaos and order, madness or unruly states of being, the human relationship to the animal world, life and death, universal archetypes of the psyche and experiences of otherness. https://www.youtube.com/c/RogerBallenPhotography https://www.rogerballen.com/
YouTube Version: https://youtu.be/oODP1IsFj5I
Rebecca Tuvel, Dan Cullen and Eric Samson interview Peter Singer about pandemic ethics. Are lockdowns and mandatory vaccines morally justified? What should governments have done differently? Why were there calls to cancel this lecture?
https://leiterreports.typepad.com/blog/2021/09/peter-singer-invited-to-give-a-zoom-talk-about-pandemic-ethics-by-the-philosophy-department-at-rhode.html
https://dailynous.com/2021/09/28/faculty-at-rhodes-college-urge-cancellation-of-online-talk-by-peter-singer/
Should you disobey the law, at least some of the time? If justice isn’t simply enforcing the law, then what is it? And what sorts of laws would we have in a just society?
Should certain weapons be banned from use in war? Are there limits on the amount of force countries should use to protect their citizens? Is it ever justified to kill innocent civilians to end a war?
ICJ Advisory Opinion: https://www.icj-cij.org/en/case/95
Is Democracy the best political system? Plato thought not. But what is the best alternative? Clif Mark, from the podcast Good in Theory, joins us this week to discuss Plato’s Republic.
https://goodintheorypod.com/
Is the art separate from the artist? Can a moral defect in a film undermine its aesthetic quality?
What would a world without imagination be like? Why do we feel sympathy, fear or excitement for fictional characters? And can imaginary actions be morally wrong?
Are human being merely sophisticated robots? Do we have mental states or can we be understood only through our behavior?
There's a growing trend to distrust scientists. Sometimes they get the facts wrong, or align with a political party. What should we do in the face of conflicting expertise? Who should we trust?
Andy Kuper, the founder and CEO of LeapFrog Investments, tells us how his PHD in philosophy led him to marry profit with purpose, by creating investment funds with deep impact on the lives of 200 million low-income people worldwide, while generating strong returns for its investors and the companies in which it invests.
https://leapfroginvest.com
Andy's Book Democracy Beyond Borders: https://www.amazon.com/Democracy-Beyond-Borders-Representation-Institutions-ebook-dp-B000WNHG48/dp/B000WNHG48/
Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail
Is cryonics a viable route to immortality? Is immortality desirable, or would it present us with endless boredom and meaninglessness?
Would it be better to live forever than to die? Is the goodness or badness of death dependent on the future quality of our lives? Is death so bad that it would be better never to have been born?
Travis' Book: Exploring the Philosophy of Death and Dying https://www.amazon.com/Exploring-Philosophy-Death-Dying-Contemporary/dp/1138393584/
Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail
What is forgiveness, and when is it appropriate? What does it mean to apologize to a group of people, and for that group to forgive? Is forgiveness ever obligatory, or is forgiveness irrational or even immoral?
John Rawls is widely regarded as the greatest modern liberal philosopher. Does his theory of justice lead to a fair society?
Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail
Should you sacrifice one innocent person to save many? Can you justify killing one annoying politician to save millions of people from suffering a minor headache? And is morality a matter of degree rather than a clear distinction between right and wrong?
Is 'mental disorder' purely a dysfunction, or are there important advantages to being psychologically different? Do depression and anxiety serve a vital role in healing and bettering one's life?
What makes Hollywood slackers like The Dude so enchanting? Are slackers the unsung heroes of the pandemic, or a bunch of useless bums?
Read Alison's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Its-OK-Be-Slacker/dp/0367338181
Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail
Should we ban offensive speech? Should we tolerate racism and transphobia? Should everything that is immoral also be illegal?
Is murder wrong? Can evolution fully explain why we think certain actions are immoral? And can we believe moral truths with even greater certainty than truths about the physical world?
Spencer Case offers objections to Shaun Stanley, a moral anti-realist who appeared previously on our show.
What if you navigated the world through echo location instead of sight? What if cats could gain all of the traits of humans? What if you were a brain in a vat trying to solve a difficult moral problem.
To learn more about Peg's work check out: https://www.pegtittle.com https://www.jassrichards.com
Special offer to podcast listeners: For any title with an on-site purchase option, Peg is happy to send a complimentary copy (epub or pdf). No strings attached. Please make your requests via the site contact form.
Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail
What makes your life go well? Can you be wrong about whether you are happy? And can happiness be bad for you?
Is sex only a matter of biology? Are there conflicts between trans rights, women's rights, and gay rights? Is it possible to change genders?
Buy Kathleen's Book: Material Girls https://www.amazon.com/Material-Girls-Reality-Matters-Feminism-ebook/dp/B08LK8TY5S
What transforms a collection of individuals into a social group? Jason Werbeloff argues the answer is: nothing. There are no social groups. No countries, political parties, marriages, or sports clubs. There are only individuals.
What can a runaway train, a patient wrapped head to toe in bandages, and man condemned by the gods to roll a rock for eternity teach us about leading a good life? If you enjoy stories that tickle your brain, this episode is for you.
Are thought experiments useful for telling us about the nature of reality? What are the limitations of thought experiments, and should we trust them in discussions of morality and science?
Should we care whether we cause others suffering? Do we have duties or obligations to others? Shaun Stanley thinks there are no moral reasons for action. Do you think morality is real?
Many believe Woke ideology to be a source of positive change in society. Helen Zille thinks otherwise. Could Wokeness be dangerous?
You can find Helen's book, #StayWoke: Go Broke, on Amazon and Takealot.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/StayWoke-Africa-survive-Americas-culture-ebook/dp/B091BB1X23/
Takealot: https://www.takealot.com/staywoke-go-broke/PLID72165371
Are there some areas of life where men are worse off than women? Are these disadvantages always the product of sexism? If we recognize a second sexism against men, what effect would this have on women?
Prof Benatar's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Second-Sexism-Discrimination-Against-Boys-ebook-dp-B007VJU7C4/dp/B007VJU7C4/
Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail
David Edmonds of Philosophy Bites fame regales us with a fiery story about Ludwig Wittgenstein's only meeting with Karl Popper. David also gives us a behind the scenes tour of the world's best loved philosophy show.
David's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Wittgensteins-Poker-Ten-Minute-Argument-Philosophers/dp/0060936649/
Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail
What is hate speech, and what are the limits of free speech? Should pornography be censored in the same way we censor speech?
Mari's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pornography-Philosophical-Introduction-Mari-Mikkola-ebook/dp/B07LFJS6RR/
Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail
Are some animals more equal than others? Do zoos protect animals or are they solely designed for our amusement? Should we test medicines on animals?
In a polarized world where everyone is certain, who should you believe? Are certain beliefs immoral? And how seriously should we take conspiracy theories?
Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail
Would a just God allow us to suffer? Could God rewrite history to remove the bad bits?
Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail
Can we construct a society free of state coercion and inequality? Is there a place for Capitalism in that society?
Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail
Are there certain questions that should never be asked? Is Philosophy useful? And have philosophers made any progress in answering the BIG questions? Justin's Daily Nous blog: https://dailynous.com/ Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail
What can we learn about public shaming from the Black Mirror episodes Hated in the Nation and Nosedive? Are there ever cases where someone deserves to be shamed? When should someone be forgiven for doing something shameful?
Contact us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail
If God is dead, did morality die with him? Are artists, writers and lovers more valuable than the rest of us mere mortals? Find out what Friedrich Nietzsche thought in our new series on great philosophers.
Brian's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Moral-Psychology-Nietzsche-Brian-Leiter-ebook-dp-B07QD6V99B/dp/B07QD6V99B/
Contact Us: Mark.Oppenheimer[at]gmail and Jwerbe[at]gmail
What is horror, and why do some of us willingly terrify ourselves by watching or reading the genre? Is horror poor quality fiction, or can it offer us a unique opportunity for empathy and moral growth?
Jacob's book: https://www.amazon.com/Stephen-King-Philosophy-Great-Authors/dp/1442253843
Are universities a safe space for dangerous ideas? Does a right to academic freedom guarantee a culture that tolerates controversial views? Should universities limit the research fields of professors?
Micro Digressions Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/956725
Spencer's Blog: https://www.spencercasephilosophy.com/
Are all Gods created equal? Are certain divine attributes less likely to be real given that multiples faiths exist? Are religions like different paths leading to the same destination?
Does a fetus have a right to life? Should there be any limitations on the choices that a woman makes over her own body?
Nathan's book: https://www.abortionarguments.com/p/this-book-introduces-readers-to-many.html
Thomson's violinist: https://spot.colorado.edu/~heathwoo/Phil160,Fall02/thomson.htm
Anarchism, or the view that we should not have a government, seems impractical. But Michael Huemer believes there is a way to understand Anarchism that not only resolves these impracticalities - it may provide a better society than the one we have now. Michael Huemer's book, 'The Problem of Political Authority': https://www.amazon.com/Problem-Political-Authority-Examination-Coerce/dp/1137281650
What's it like to be unable to recognize faces? 2% of the population have a neurological condition called prosopagnosia, or face blindness - including this week's guest, and one of our hosts. Listen to Jeff's Face Blind podcast here: https://faceblindpodcast.com/
Christopher Nolan's Tenet is a visual feast, but does it make any sense? Eron Fasser explains if you can you time travel to change the past and if Neil and Protagonist have free will? Brain in a Vat Book: www.smarturl.it/lockdownbook
A round up of our favorite episodes and some insight into how we make the show. We will be on a hiatus until January. Let us know in the YouTube comments who you want to see us interview in the coming year.
Is the Supreme Court merely a political body made up of warring liberals and conservatives? Should Judges apply laws that are unjust? Will the Supreme Court declare Trump the winner of the election?
Leiter Report: https://leiterreports.typepad.com/blog/
What makes life worth living? How valuable are truth, beauty and morality? If life is ultimately meaningless from the perspective of the universe is none the less better to have been born? Thad on the Meaning of Life :https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/life-meaning/
Is it possible for your actions to be free, even if they are determined? And would an indeterministic universe make us any freer? If we don't have free will, should we be held accountable for our actions?
If your vote has only a tiny chance of influencing the outcome of an election, is it irrational to vote? Does voting grant legitimacy to repugnant candidates? Is voting always an obligation, or are there situations that require you not to vote?
Philosopher Games on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/PhilosopherGames/
Philosopher Games on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilosopherGames
Is virtual sex outside of a relationship cheating? How should we determine a person's gender? Should the same rules apply to race? Rebecca's article: In Defense of Transracialism https://cryptome.org/2017/05/in-defense-of-transracialism.pdf Hypatia transracialism controversy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypatia_transracialism_controversy
We have a philosophical conversation with an artist about her latest exhibition. Dom's paintings explore the social and sexual mores of the last twenty years through the lens of our current values.
Are you just a physical body? If you have a brain transplant do you stay with your original body or move with your brain? Could the existence of an immaterial soul solve the mind body problem?
Tyron's Books: The Puzzle of Existence: Why Is There Something Rather Than Nothing? Idealism: New Essays in Metaphysics
Thumbnail Art: Lateralus Album Cover by Alex Grey
Is it wrong to destroy an AI if it can have a conversation with a human being? If a robot expresses suffering is it wrong to torture it? Should we mourn the death of a robot lover?
Sparrow, R. 2004. The Turing triage test. Ethics and Information Technology 6(4): 203-213.
Sparrow, R. 2007. Killer robots. Journal of Applied Philosophy 24(1): 62-77, March.
Sparrow, R. 2020. Virtue and vice in our relationships with robots: Is there an asymmetry and how might it be explained? International Journal of Social Robotics
Are some animals more equal than others? Are game reserves a part of nature if they are man made? Is global warming universally bad or does it benefit some species?
Brain in a Vat Store: smarturl.it/Lockdownbook
Thumbnail Art: Peace by Lynn Bywaters
Is cancel culture destroying our institutions? Should Holocaust deniers have the right to speak? What is hate speech, and should it be illegal?
Brain in a Vat Store: smarturl.it/Lockdownbook
Harpers Letter: https://harpers.org/a-letter-on-justice-and-open-debate/
Atom bombs, diamond billionaires, and hate mail have a special role to play in this bonus episode. Brain in a Vat Store: smarturl.it/Lockdownbook
Is it wrong to only have a sexual preference for certain races? Can you have sex without being objectified? Is there a moral limit on our sexual fantasies?
Store: http://smarturl.it/LockdownBook
Thumbnail Art: The Yoshiwara Prostitute by Kikugawa Eizan
What does it all mean? If we live on a pail blue dot in a vast and uncaring universe can our lives have cosmic meaning? Is it better never to have been born?
Could purposely infecting volunteers with the Coronavirus help us reach herd immunity or develop a vaccine more rapidly? Is it wrong to expose people to the risk of death, even if they consent? Thumbnail Art: Hold Your Breath Paulina Siniatkina
Can you be revolted and attracted to the same person? Can concepts be beautiful? Does art need to create sensations to be enjoyed? IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12490350/ Thumbnail Art: A Grotesque Old Woman by Quentin Matsys
Who deserves to be punished? Should the State kill killers and rape rapists? Should we abolish the police and the prison system?
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/braininavat IMDB:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12490350/
Culturals groups have different beliefs about what is morally right and wrong. Does a tolerant outlook mean that we should accept these different beliefs as correct? What if those beliefs are discriminatory?
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/braininavat
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12490350/
Thumbnail Art: The Dinner Party by Sam Walsh
Is love everlasting? Can we love more than one person at the same time?
Do we choose our lovers for the wrong reasons?
http://rajasmusingsconfusings.blogspot.com/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/braininavat
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12490350/
Thumbnail Art: The Lovers by Rene Magritte
Is it wrong to root for the bad guy in a horror movie? Is evil a matter of who you are or what you do? What makes an action supremely evil?
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/braininavat
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12490350/
Thumbnail Art: The number of the beast is 666 by William Blake
What do Greta Thunberg, #BLM and #Metoo have in common? Are these moralising quests to end climate change, racism and sexism motivated by the will to do good, or merely the will to look good?
Grandstanding: The Use and Abuse of Moral Talk https://www.amazon.com/Grandstanding-Use-Abuse-Moral-Talk-ebook/dp/B0851PR3DB/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/braininavat
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12490350/
Thumbnail Art: J. C. Leyendecker The Politician
Were you outraged when Cecil the lion was killed by a hunter? Are you against rhino poaching? Do you order extra bacon with your cheese burger? Are some animals more equal than others?
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/braininavat
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12490350/
Thumbnail Art: Jeff Lemire from Sweet Tooth
Can God exist if the world is filled with suffering? And are there compelling arguments for or against God's existence? Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/braininavat IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12490350/ Thumbnail Art: Terry Gilliam from Monty Python's The Meaning of Life
What is art? Why is art valuable? If enough people feel hurt by a piece of art or public monument, should we hide or destroy the work?
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/braininavat
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12490350/
Thumbnail Art: Octavia Roodt http://www.octaviaroodt.com/
"Defund the police. Violent protests are justified. Anyone against Black Lives Matter is a Nazi." How would you engage with these views? We ask Peter Boghossian how to have impossible conversations.
Peter's Book: http://bit.ly/ConversationsBook
New Discourses: https://newdiscourses.com/translations-from-the-wokish/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/braininavat
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12490350/ Animation by Laurynne Gouws: https://www.lightbulbmedia.co.za/
Thumbnail Art: Luke Batha
Do you live in a simulation? And if you do, could you live a valuable life? We talk with Kenny Pearce this week to find out.
Read Kenny's Berkeley book here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/language-and-the-structure-of-berkeleys-world-9780198790334
And his book about Idealism here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/idealism-9780198746973
Podcast: https://anchor.fm/braininavat
Facebook Discussion Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/braininavat
Animation by Laurynne Gouws: https://www.lightbulbmedia.co.za/
Thumbnail art: By Juane Ivy The Nature of Reality https://greaterthanmyopia.com/
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12490350/
Does the colour of your skin, the texture of your hair, or the shape of your nose make you part of a racial group? Is race a social construct based on collective perception? Do the members of a race share beliefs, cultures and attitudes?
Facebook Discussion Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/braininavat
Thumbnail art: By Amazing Ameziane from Muhammad Ali Graphic Novel
When Tuvok and Neelix accidentally merge into a single man in a transporter accident, Captain Janeway has to make a tough decision: Should she kill Tuvix to restore Tuvok and Neelix? We discuss the philosophy of Star Trek, transporters, and personal identity.
Are lockdown regulations lawful? Do we have a duty to obey the law? What if the law is immoral, contradictory or unknowable? The famous philosopher Lon Fuller wrote a thought experiment about King Rex who failed to make law in eight different ways. 1) A failure to achieve rules at, all so that every issue must be decided on an ad hoc basis. 2)A failure to publicize, or at least make available to the affected party, the rules he is expected to observe. 3)The abuse of retrospective legislation, which not only cannot itself guide action, but undercuts the integrity of rules prospective in effect, since it puts them under the threat of retrospective change. 4)A failure to make rules understandable. 5)The enactment of contradictory rules. 6)Rules that require conduct beyond the powers of the affected party. 7) Introducing such frequent changes in the rules that the subject cannot orient his action by them. 8) A failure of congruence between the rules as announced and their actual administration.
Imagine you build a time machine. Is it possible for you to travel back in time, meet your grandfather before he produces any children, and kill him? Time travel is a sci-fi staple. Is Back to the Future philosophically accurate? Did J.K Rowling crack the secret of time travel in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban? As a bonus we explain why Rick and Morty's The Vat of Acid Episode isn't about time travel.
Your brother has been missing for months and there is mounting evidence that he is dead. Is it rational to hope that he is alive and keep searching for him?
Is it rational to have faith in the existence of God because, if he turns out to exist, your faith may let you into heaven while a lack of faith could condemn you to hell?
Liz Jackson's public interviews: http://liz-jackson.com/public-philosophy/
Her paper on Belief, Faith and Hope: https://philpapers.org/archive/JACBFA.pdf
Thumbnail image by Jeff Lemire from Issue #1 of Royal City
Language is ambiguous at the best of times, think about how much gets lost in translation. Imagine hearing a tribesman in a remote land utter the word "gavagai" upon seeing a rabbit. A speaker of English could do what seems natural and translate this as "Lo, a rabbit." But other translations would be compatible with all the evidence she has: "Lo, food"; "Let's go hunting"; "There will be a storm tonight" (he may be superstitious).
What can eating Marilyn Monroe's thigh and the pain of teenage heartbreak tell us about the value of human life? We discuss what makes life worth living and ending.
John Rawls thought we needed to wear a veil of ignorance to remove our biases before deciding on the rules of a just society. Are his ideas useful in a world where the elderly and the vulnerable are exposed to higher risks? Should the healthy and the well off accept limits on their freedom?
An out-of-control trolley is rumbling toward five innocent people trapped on a track. You can divert the trolley onto another track by pulling a switch, but the other track has one person on it. Do you pull the switch? Governments around the world have used lockdowns to save lives, but this choice has had severe economic consequences. Did they pull the right switch? Hosted by Dr Jason Werbeloff and Mark Oppenheimer.